Best bets: Top 5 playoff games to watch this weekend in Mississippi high school football (Nov. 12)
All six of Mississippi's high school football classifications are officially in the playoffs, and that means there will be good matchups all over the state this weekend. It's that time of year when we get to see which regions have produced the strongest teams and how schools that don't usually play each other stack up against one another.
Here's a look at the top five playoff games we'll be keeping an eye on this Friday night.
MORE: Complete 2021 MHSAA Football Playoff Brackets
TOP 5 GAMES TO WATCH
Warren Central (7-3) at D’Iberville (10-1) - 6A bracket
D’Iberville can move on to the 6A South State Semifinal for the second year in a row, but only if it can pass a big test at home against the visiting Vikings. D’Iberville’s Drey Lenoir has averaged better than 120 yards a game and run for 22 touchdowns, but the Warren Central defense has had success stopping the run in the last month in wins over ground-oriented teams like Pearl and Terry. The Vikings have big wins over Vicksburg and Pearl under their belt, but a road win over the Warriors in the first round of the 6A South State Playoffs would be their best one to date.
Oxford (6-4) at South Panola (8-1) - 6A bracket
We’re finally going to get the showdown we were supposed to get back on Sept. 3, when South Panola couldn’t play because of COVID-19 protocols. The Tigers are the higher-ranked team and playing at home, but their strength of schedule is anything but impressive. The Chargers, on the other hand, went 5-2 in the toughest division in Mississippi high school football. South Panola can push back on the notion that Region 1 is not as strong with a win Friday night. Oxford’s quarterback play will likely determine this one, especially if the Charger defense can’t corral D’mariun Perteet and slow down the Tigers’ running game.
Gulfport (8-3) at Oak Grove (8-2) - 6A bracket
The defending state champion Warriors looked ready to pull off the repeat for much of the year, but slipped to second in Region 3 following a 24-17 loss to Brandon on Oct. 22. Gulfport got hot around mid-September and finished third in Region 4 after winning six out of the last eight games of the season, losing only against D’Iberville (10-1) and Ocean Springs (10-0). If Gulfport can limit the chances for Warrior quarterback Kabe Barnett and tailback J.Q. Gray and keep it to a low-scoring affair, they might be able to pull off the upset on the road in the first round.
Louisville (9-2) at Clarksdale (8-1) - 4A bracket
This one presents a fascinating matchup between Wildcats in the second round of the 4A North Playoffs. In shutout wins over Northeast Lauderdale, Choctaw Central and Leake Central, Louisville has looked as dominant on defense as it was last season, when it defeated Poplarville in the 4A Championship. But unlike last year, that same defense has looked gettable at times, particularly in the 36-35 loss to West Lauderdale on Oct. 15 and a narrow 26-23 win over Kosciusko on Oct. 28. Clarksdale has averaged 32 points a game over its last six, including a 41-0 win over South Pontotoc in the first round last week. If they can move the ball against Louisville, expect this one to come down to the wire.
Magee (8-2) at Enterprise Clarke (10-0) - 3A bracket
We don’t really know what to expect in this 3A South State quarterfinal showdown, as the Trojans and Bulldogs have no common opponents. Enterprise competed in 2A last season and made it all the way to South State before losing to eventual champion Taylorsville. Magee, the defending 3A State Champion, has played a tougher schedule but have not looked as dominant as they were last season when they ran roughshod through 3A South. If the Trojans are to defend their state title, it’ll likely be on the shoulder and legs of quarterback Tristan Newsome and leading rusher Jawon Shaw.
(Feature photo by Keith Warren)
